Who We Are

Our Story

In 1734, John Wesley began preaching in the open air of England to those who had been left out and cast off from the religious system of the day. This move of the Holy Spirit touched off a Revival that impacted the world. As men and women responded to the life-saving hope of Jesus, they NEEDED a place to worship together and to disciple and care for the practical needs of a people suffering from economic need. Today, you can tour that historic NEW ROOM chapel in Bristol, England.

In Carbondale, the Lord called Victory Dream Center in the wave of that same 18th century revival. Since 2010, we have seen God bring thousands of hurting, hungry, broken people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Now... we have built New Room as a place for worshipping, healing, and growing together in Christ.

Our Leadership Team

Doug
Cherry

Founding Pastor

Doug grew up a Carbondale Terrier. All those years ago you would find him shooting hoops in the gym or sweating it out on the track. However all that athletic passion would pale in comparison to His ultimate first love: Jesus Christ. His call into pastoral ministry came after his years of working as a CPA and a financial planner. After completing his Masters in Practical Theology from Oral Roberts University, it came as no surprise when God called him and his family to plant a church in the hometown he loved. Serving alongside his wife, Lisa, and their ten children has been a great joy. In 2025-26, Doug was excited to take classes at Wesley Biblical Seminary in preparation for his ordination in the Global Methodist Church. Watching God bring New Room GMC alongside the vision of Dream Center has been a great adventure. He looks
forward to many more years of faithful service to the Lord as he ministers with
compassion to his community, his church family and his 25 grandchildren who call him Grampy.

Lisa
Cherry

Transition Pastor

Lisa was born into a long lineage of pastors’ families. She met Jesus as a child and was called in her teen years into those ministry footsteps herself. However, she would not have been able to anticipate in those early years how unconventional her path of ministry would proceed. As a busy mom of ten she learned tenacity, compassion and organization. The Lord would put those skills into use as she has faithfully served Victory Dream Center as Administrative Pastor. In recent years, she was called back to complete the seminary training started before all those children came along. Upon completion of her studies at Wesley Biblical Seminary, she will be ordained an elder in the new Global Methodist denomination in summer 2026. She currently serves as Transition Pastor for launching New Room Global Methodist church in Carbondale, Illinois. She loves ministering God’s word to those needing hope and healing. Her creativity and passion make her do crazy things like camp cross country in her van to explore the wilderness of Montana. She counts it an honor to serve alongside her sweetie of 45 years, Doug. Together they find great joy passing on a legacy of faith to their 25 grands who she claims are the best grandkids ever.

Nathan
Cherry

Executive Pastor

Nathan started his work at Victory Dream Center before he could even drive. As a young teen he heard God’s call to ministry and dove into a life of devoted service. For the last 26 years he’s worn dozens of hats from Reality Youth Pastor to Worship Pastor to Financial Administrator to Food Pantry Director to bus driver to pallet jack operator. He currently serves as Executive Pastor of New Room Global Methodist and Food Pantry Executive Director of Victory Dream Center and is pursuing seminary training at Asbury Theological Seminary.Over the years his gifting has been shaped by his passion to see the lost found, the broken healed, and the hungry fed. With his educational background in business administration, Nathan has also built a very successful landscaping business that keeps him in the great outdoors that he loves. He is a devoted husband to Tara and the proud father of Lilibeth, Ryan, Ben, Andrew, Rosemary, and Tiffany. When life threw this couple a curveball with three precious special needs children, Nathan and Tara have found God’s grace to be magnificently sufficient even in trying circumstances. It is from these trenches of real life suffering, they offer the hope, encouragement, and love of Jesus to all they meet.